East coast's new government-backed owner will operate "within the current system of fares regulation" and, should the loss-making business turn the corner, all profits will be returned to the public purse.
"Ending a century-long system of two-fare zones dramatically increased the mobility of New Yorkers.
One aspect of the London Transport reforms was however maintained; the new system of flat fares within ticket zones, and the inter-modal Travelcard ticket continues as the basis of the ticketing system.
It wipes clean the slate, replaces it with a system of tolls and fares designed as incentives to minimize congestion in the central business district, ease circulation around the region and revive public transit.
The minority shareholders of the corporation approved the proposal at an extraordinary general meeting on 9 October 2007, allowing MTRCL to take over the operation of the KCR network and combine the fare system of the two networks on 2 December 2007.
Taxis in White Plains operate on a system of eight zones, with fares ranging from $3.90 to $6.75, although owners would like to institute a gas surcharge of 50 cents, Mr. Menendez said.
The systems list millions of fares, though they have largely been unsuccessful in getting airlines to share their most deeply discounted Web-only fares.
Fares are calculated in increments based on approximate distances between stations, in contrast to the use of fare zones in other subway systems, such as the London Underground.
The transit tax also funded improvements to the adjoining Metromover system, including removal of the 25 cent fare, with the idea that higher ridership on the system would lead to higher Metrorail ridership, as well as the realization that the cost of fare collection exceeded fare revenue.
Critics say that is a recipe for a sweaty commute.Providing an unsubsidised system on a fare of 77 cents looks ambitious.
